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Overview

WCS began working in Afghanistan in 2004 and opened a full country program in 2006. With a staff of over 50 full-time national and international experts, we have helped to draft many of Afghanistan’s environmental legislation; trained thousands of Afghan community members, rangers, and government staff in natural resource management; built new community governance institutions; performed ground-breaking studies on a suite of wildlife including snow leopards and Marco Polo sheep; implemented cutting-edge disease, rangeland management, and conflict mitigation projects; and helped design and support Afghanistan’s first and second official protected areas, Band-e-Amir National Park (2009) and Wakhan National Park (2014). WCS is committed long-term to helping the people of Afghanistan build their capacity to protect their unique wildlife and wild landscapes.

In the news

The snow leopards were trapped using special foot-snares that have been modified to decrease the possibility of injury to the animal. They were then anesthetized before being handled and fitted with a special collar that will track their movements via satellite over the next 13 months, by which then the collars will automatically drop off. Based on clinical examinations, the snow leopards were deemed healthy.

Nowshak (Noshaq or Nowshakh) –At7,492 meters (24,580 feet) high, Nowshak is the highest mountain in Afghanistan and the second highest independent peak of the Hindu Kush (after Tirich Mir in Pakistan which reaches heights of 7,690m (or 25,230 feet). Nowshak is located in the northeastern corner of Afghanistan, along the Durand line which marks the border with Pakistan. The north and west sides of the mountain are in Afghanistan whereas the south and eastern sides are in Pakistan.